Kiwifruit orchards in the region of Wiahi have been found to be infected with the virus Psa-V. Also, the Hayward orchards were found to be infected with the virus.

The Kiwifruit Vine Health Chairman, John Burke, reveals that the association has marked the Waihi orchards under highly infected category. The association has marked 30 orchards in the new Waihi region as less infected, whereas another 19 orchids in the Waihi have been confirmed to be highly infected with the virus.

The issue was brought into notice by a supervising official who was on an inspection round, reveals Mr. Burke. As a consequence of the spread of infection in plants, the orchard supervisors were alarmed to keep a regular check on the orchards. Also, the equipments used in cultivation should be cleaned regularly, are the orders from the KVH association.

As per Mr. Burke, "I think what's possibly happened is prior to us identifying Psa-V in Te Puke, there's been inadvertent movement of plant material to that orchard, which has meant it has become infected". The association was examining the orchards on the basis of their history in order to find the outbreak of the disease among plants from past 2-3 years.